Want to know what it’s like exploring the island of Mauritius? Or where to find some wildlife and natural places? ‘Mauritius – A Month Exploring the Island’ is our personal experience exploring this country in 2023. Our adventure includes Mahebourg, Black River, Port Louis and Grand Baie. We share our insights on some great places to stay, where to eat and drink, and things to see and do. ‘Mauritius – A Month Exploring the Island’ reflects our travel style and aims to provide useful things to know before visiting this obscure destination.
Mauritius, ‘star of the Indian Ocean’. It’s hard to argue with this on an island of perfect white sand beaches, stunning turquoise waters, incredible waterfalls and lush green rainforests. Home of the long-lost Dodo, Mauritius is now one of the world’s leading countries in bringing back species from the brink of extinction. The Mauritius Wildlife Foundation is making giant strides re-establishing the Echo Parakeet, Pink Pigeon. Kestrel and the Giant Tortoise. Known for its package tourism, and all-inclusive resorts, the island offers rich rewards for travellers willing to explore the interior.
Why go to Mauritius?
Mauritius is an island paradise, in the Southern Indian Ocean, off the coast of South Africa. Lovely weather, beaches with crystal clear waters, great infrastructure, and National Parks full of hiking opportunities are what you can expect to find. This, along with some wildlife, tropical fruits and friendly locals, make the island an attractive destination no matter what your interests. Regularly ranking as one of Africa’s safest countries, Mauritius is a safe and pleasant location for travellers of all ages.
- Capital: Port Louis
- Best time to visit: April – October (wet season November to April)
- Budget/Mid-Range/Couple: AU$100 per day
- Currency: Mauritian Rupee (MUR28 = AU$1)
- Language: French & English
- Visa: No
- Difficulty: 1 (1-basic & 5-challenging)
Mahebourg
Mahebourg is a pleasant place, an ideal city to get into the relax vibe of the island. We spent ten days here and loved it. It’s a great base to explore nearby Vallee de Ferney and Ile aux Aigrettes, both only a short drive away. There’s a good local market selling seasonal fruit and vegetables, a couple of modern supermarkets, and even a new mall. Restaurants, beaches, plus a few attractions, are also on offer. Not a lot of visitors around, which makes it the perfect place to experience authentic Mauritian life.
Getting to Mahebourg
Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport is only a ten-minute drive, on the outskirts of the city. Taxi or private car are the only way to travel between the two. There is a local bus that travels from Mahebourg to Port Louis, but these tended to be irregular and unreliable during our time on the island.
Where to stay in Mahebourg
Mahebourg offers a good variety of guesthouses and Airbnb’s. We found a great one down on the waterfront, an ideal spot to reach most of the areas of interest. It’s nice and quiet during the evenings, with welcoming locals. Nearby Blue Bay is also popular, with restaurants and beaches. No big resorts or hotels around the city, like other parts of the island.
Where to eat and drink in Mahebourg
The local fresh fruit and vegetable market down by the waterfront most mornings is a self-caterers dream. King Savers supermarket has the biggest selection of groceries in the city, with plenty of products you’d find at home, including alcohol. Seafood restaurants are easy to find.
- Get to Chez Francois (popular with locals, mostly seafood on the menu. The fish and chips are a generous serving)
- Don’t miss La Vielle Rouge (family run, across from the beach)
- Check out King Savers (modern grocery store, with everything from fruit and vegetables, to a popular café)
Things to see and do in Mahebourg
Ile aux Aigrettes nature reserve is a small island a short distance off the coast. Run by the Mauritian wildlife foundation, daily two-hour tours depart from the small office on the main road to Blue Bay. Encounters with giant tortoises are unavoidable, while spotting the pink pigeon and other smaller birds depends on the weather.
Vallee de Ferney is another Mauritian Wildlife Foundation project. Two-hour tours through the forest, which is home to three endangered species – the kestrel, echo parakeet and pink pigeon. The forest contains ebony trees, which were almost wiped out. We took the first tour of the day, as this includes the feeding of the kestrels. The jeep ride from the office to the valley is also fun.
The National Museum on Royal Road may be small, however, it contains some unique items, including a dodo skeleton. The building and grounds are impressive, and entry is free.
La Vanille Nature Park is a thirty-minute drive, and a great place to see some of the island’s wildlife. Set on a river surrounded by trees, it has an amazing insect museum. The nearby village of Souillac has a nice beach, and Chez Rosy restaurant was a favourite lunch stop of ours.
Pont Naturel is home to a natural rock bridge over the ocean. Not easy to find. Bring a picnic. Thirty-minute trip in the car.
Getting around Mahebourg
Walking around the city is easy enough, but you will need a car or taxi to reach everywhere else. We hired a car during our time in Mauritius. We used Ravi car rental, great guys. They deliver the car to your door, anywhere on the island.
Black River
The Black River area was our favourite on the island. It’s an ideal base for exploring all the South West has to offer, like the awesome Black River Gorges National Park, Le Morne, Flic en Flac and Chamarel. Popular with locals and visitors, there’s restaurants, cafes, bars and supermarkets. The sunsets are unreal.
Getting to Black River
Good roads connect Port Louis and the South Coast. We drove around the coast from Mahebourg. The road down from Chamarel is windy and slow. Mauritius isn’t a large place, so you can reach any town in a couple of hours.
Where to stay in Black River
Accommodation options are plentiful, with an expanding number of hotels and resorts in the area for every budget. Airbnb’s provide another alternative. We stayed in a lovely one down Les Salines Pilot Road, a quiet, friendly, local area, with beach access and colourful birds.
Where to eat and drink in Black River
Weekends are lively, with music and entertainment offered by various bars and restaurants. Fresh local produce is sold in stalls along the main road most mornings. The local London Way supermarket has everything you would expect. The Super U store in Tamarin is massive. If you can’t find it there, it’s unlikely to be on the island.
- Get to Frenchie Cafe (our favourite place for fish and chips)
- Don’t miss Vanilla Village (good coffee and nice vegetarian options, plus a variety of local stores and cool live music on weekends)
- Check out The Bay Bar and guesthouse (the number one choice for a cocktail on the beach while watching the sunset)
Things to see and do in Black River
Black River Gorges National Park is a short drive from town. There’s numerous hikes and short walks, anywhere from thirty minutes to seven hours. A basic Visitor Information Centre near the carpark has some simple maps on display, but nothing to take with you. Take some photo’s if you don’t already have a map. Most of the trails are clearly marked, and easy enough to follow. River crossings are common. Depending on the weather conditions, some trails may be temporarily closed. The park has heaps of picnic and swimming opportunities. Bring enough water. Really busy on weekends. Our favourite hike was the Machabee trail, steep, but with rewarding views.
Le Morne Peninsula offers loads of activities, from surfing to horse riding. Le Morne Brabant is the mountain you see on all the postcards. The view from the top is spectacular. A challenging climb, which requires a guide. You will find them standing out on the main road near the turnoff early each morning. Prices are negotiable.
Chamarel was a worthwhile drive up the hill. Touristy attractions including Rhumerie de Chamarel, Chamarel Waterfall and the Ebony Forest get packed, so head up as early as possible.
Flic en Flac is where you’ll find the South Coasts best beach. A resort town, it becomes crowded with sun lovers over the peak months.
Getting around Black River
A car is required to reach the National Park and most of the other areas. If you don’t have your own, taxis are always available. There is a bus that runs to Port Louis, and South towards Belle Marie. Plan ahead if you plan on catching it.
Port Louis
The capital Port Louis is as busy as it gets in Mauritius. The downtown area is the perfect spot to immerse yourself in authentic local life. There are a handful of sites to visit, a modern waterfront area, and a variety of eating options. Most sites can be covered in a day visit from Grand Baie.
Getting to Port Louis
Port Louis has three busy main access roads. Grand Baie to the North, Black River in the South, and Mahebourg on the Eastern side of the island, all reachable in under one hour. The city is the main public transport hub, with buses to major towns, along with a ferry terminal, mainly for cruise ships. A new light rail connects surrounding suburbs. City traffic is very congested. Avoid if possible.
Where to stay in Port Louis
Visitors have no reason to stay in the city, with a couple of top end hotels on the waterfront the main option. Staying in one of the surrounding neighbourhoods is a better bet if you want to spend time in the city. We found an Airbnb in the Pointe aux Sables area, allowing us to experience a bit of local living. It is connected with the new light rail, which made city access easy.
Where to eat and drink in Port Louis
The city caters for the local workforce during the day, and is quiet in the evenings. Look for where the locals are lining up around lunchtime, a good indication of food quality. The waterfront houses upscale eating and drinking options. The local produce market provides the best source of fruit and vegetables.
- Get to Flying Dodo (a great little brewery on the waterfront)
- Don’t miss Central Market (great range of local produce and the perfect place for mingling with locals)
- Check out Namaste Indian (one of the best in the country, with plenty of meals to choose from, and lots a flavour)
Things to see and do in Port Louis
The Natural History Museum and the surrounding Jardins de la Campagnie in the centre of town, are interesting and informative.
Aapravis Ghat is a World Heritage site, and a must visit. A complete history of the immigration of over 500,000 immigrants that came to work in the island’s plantations, with the hope of creating a better life for themselves and their families.
Fort Adelaide is perched on top of a hill overlooking the city. The 360-degree view makes the climb worthwhile.
Eureka Estate provides visitors with a great example of an old sugar estate. Restored, it has some lovely gardens, short walks to waterfalls, and a little café.
Getting around Port Louis
Attractions in the city are all reachable on foot from the light rail station at the waterfront. Entering the city via public transport is your best bet, as driving in the city centre is a nightmare.
Grand Baie
The most popular area in Mauritius, with resorts and beaches galore. This is where package tourists spend their time, visiting one of the many shops, cafes, restaurants and markets that line the streets. We found that Grand Baie offers more, if you are prepared to venture out of the busy town centre. Botanical gardens, old estates and traditional markets are all in close proximity.
Getting to Grand Baie
Grand Baie has the best transport connections in the country. It is possible to travel from the airport directly to Grand Baie in around an hour. Port Louis is a short drive down the highway, and Black River can be reached easily in an hour and a half. The area is easily reached from anywhere on the island by car.
Where to stay in Grand Baie
The area is full of resorts, guesthouses and Airbnb’s. The downtown area is obviously very convenient, with things becoming much quieter away from the centre. We found a great Airbnb in Petit Raffary, full of gardens and birds, and yet only a few minute’s drive from town. The small village of Trou-aux-Biches is another place to consider staying. It also gets busy.
Where to eat and drink in Grand Baie
Grand Baie has the best variety of eating options on the island. Places get full quickly over the lunch and dinner period, so make a plan. We found that eating a little earlier solved this problem. We often had the table with the best view, quick service and even the staff had time for a chat. Some places even offer a discount to eat during off-peak times.
- Get to Beach House Bar (one of the best places to have a drink and enjoy the view)
- Don’t miss Island Bay Healthy Food (our favourite place to visit, with smoothie bowls and fresh salads, served in a small garden setting)
- Check out Blue Lagoon Cafe (our number one area for people watching while enjoying one of the tasty dishes)
Things to see and do in Grand Baie
Pamplemousses Botanical Gardens are one of the best we’ve ever visited. The giant waterlilies are impressive. The oldest gardens in the Southern Hemisphere, spending a couple of hours wandering around here is mesmerising. Sprawling over ninety acres, the gardens are perfect for a picnic lunch. Only twenty minutes from Grand Baie, things get crowded very quickly. Come early to have the best experience.
Goodlands Market was one of our favourite spots to immerse ourselves in local life. The largest markets in Mauritius, with friendly locals and an amazing selection of fruit and vegetables. Negotiating the price is part of the fun.
Notre Dame Auxilliatrice would be one of the most photographed buildings on the island, for good reason. It’s an easy bike ride from town, with some eating and drinking options along the way.
Bras D’eau National Park has a useful information centre, with a handful of easy-to-follow walks. We visited a few times, and often had the place to ourselves. Theres plenty of shade, and we enjoyed the early morning birdlife.
Chateau Labourdonnais was once one of the islands biggest sugar plantations. Now a museum, there’s gardens to explore, and rum tasting.
Getting around Grand Baie
Rental car is the most practical way to explore this area. Ravi car rental is a reliable local company. Grand Baie itself is easily covered on foot, or pushbike, which most accommodations provide for guests to use. Taxis are ready and waiting at all hours. Tour companies around town also offer trips to the main attractions.
Getting to Mauritius
Mauritius has great connections with Europe, Asia, Middle East, Africa and even a flight from Perth, Australia. Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport is new and modern, with the usual duty free and eating options. We flew in from Johannesburg, a four-hour flight.
Useful things to know before visiting Mauritius
French is the official language, not everyone will speak English.
The public transport system isn’t great.
There’s modern malls and department stores like you’d find at home.
Mauritius is one of Africa’s safest countries.
There’s much more than resorts and beaches.
Tropical fruit and vegetables are delicious and plentiful.
We found a couple of vegan restaurants. Vegetarian is easy to find.
The currency exchange at the airport has very competitive rates.
Ayurveda is a popular form of medicine.
Final thoughts on travelling in Mauritius
Mauritius really is the star of the Indian Ocean. It’s easy to understand why it’s often seen as a package tourism and all-inclusive resort holiday destination. But don’t be fooled, Mauritius has so much more to discover. National Parks hiding exotic birds, secret waterfalls, and old estates with fine rum tasting opportunities, are all memorable experiences. Remarkable conservation projects re-establishing native fauna and flora are interesting and worthwhile excursions. With modern conveniences, world class beaches and endless sun, Mauritius has something for everyone. Spend a little time exploring and you may not find a Dodo, but you will find many more hidden treasures.